CLOSING ACT
Poor Rarity didn’t know where to begin, especially seeing as Glitter Glitz had already gone away. Her footprints, not yet covered by the snow lead all the way to the escort terminal, where she had obvious hopped on a coach for home.
Rarity’s tears of guilt just wouldn’t stop falling, and all those horrible things she said to Glitter kept echoing in her head. “How can I ever make it up to her?” she kept asking herself.
Then she remembered what the others had told her; about thinking of others on Heart’s Warming, and showing consideration by at least thinking about them, and even contributing.
“Of course!” she snapped “This just may work!”
First she left a note for her friends telling of what she was doing. Then she headed straight for town, and bought loads of fabrics, spending practically nearly every last bit she had on her. The last of her money was spent on a train-ticket back to Ponyville.
She looked back at the palace feeling bad about ditching her friends, but she only hoped they would understand. “I have much to do and only extremely little time!”
Back at the palace, the play had long since ended, and some of the actors were signing autographs, but Twilight and friends all met backstage where Spike found Rarity’s letter.
“Sorry to leave on such short notice, but I haven’t much time to explain.
Please escort Sweetie Belle home when you all return.
Sincerely: Rarity!”
“I can’t believe Rarity would just go off and leave me like this; one Hearth’s Warming Eve?!” said Sweetie Belle. “As if she hasn’t ruined Hearth’s Warming enough already.”
Applejack patted her back softly, “Calm down, Sweetie Belle. While I don’t approve of Rarity just takin’ off like that, I think I know what she’s up to.”
The others all thought and felt the same thing, and they honestly couldn’t tell if it was a good idea or a crazy idea. “I don’t I’d want be Rarity in the morning…” Spike said.
The others all agreed.
When Rarity got back to Ponyville, she headed straight home and set to work with everything she had bought from Canterlot, and she worked, and worked, and worked, right through the night.
She grew more and more exhausted the harder she worked, but she kept in mind why she was doing this, “Have to be considerate! Have to be considerate!”
At morning, the sun rose into the sky on Hearth’s Warming Day, and ponies were all waking up and about, wishing each other a happy day, while children opened their presents and were all excited.
Many other ponies were singing carols in the streets, as Twilight and the gang all walked along. Sweetie Belle was at home with her parents.
“Oh, it’s all so beautiful!” cried Pinkie.
“Eeyup! Happy Hearth’s Warmin’, every-pony!” Applejack declared.
The gang came together in a group hug, which was suddenly broken by the sounds of a loud fanfare sounding in the streets. “What’s that?” asked Fluttershy.
“It sounded like it came from over at Rarity’s.” said Rainbow.
“Let’s go see.” said Starlight.
The ponies all galloped their way to Rarity’s shop, where they saw a huge banner that read, “Happy Heart’s Warming! “Think of others Foundation.” Rarity had worked on all night with long sheets of green and red fabrics with gold stars all around the edges.
Though she was clearly exhausted, she was at the front table announcing, “This is a charitable clothing drive. Donate your old clothes you do not wish to have anymore and help us help those who are cold and homeless in the streets. Think of others on Hearth’s Warming, and show consideration by giving what you can.”
Her speech wooed many ponies whom donated many kinds of clothing to her.
There was also a large donation jar for ponies to leave bits of cash to help feed the poor. Even if some ponies only dropped in a single bit, every little piece counted.
“Rarity, what is all this?” Twilight asked.
“I think it’s obvious what it is.” Replied rarity “I am merely taking into heart of what I was taught the other night. I do need to think of others today and also…” she held up a smaller jar already full of donations from earlier, “I wish to send this to Glitter Glitz. I realize that money cannot pay for things, and they cannot truly give her happiness, but I wish her to realize how truly sorry I am for the horrid things I said the other night. Thanks to her and all of you, I’ve relearned the meaning of Hearth’s Warming, and I wish to help others understand it as well.”
The others felt touched by her heartfelt words. “That’s so sweet, Rarity.” Spike said “But… well…”
“But what…?” Rarity asked.
The other ponies didn’t know if it felt right to tell her now, so they promised, “We’ll tell you tomorrow.” said Twilight “Today is not the right day.”
“What? What do you want to tell me?” Rarity asked.
“We said we can’t, not today.” said Rainbow.
The others began to walk off, but Rarity suddenly used her magic to levitate Spike. “Tell me what it is!” she thundered… only because she was restless from lack of sleep.
“Rarity!” snapped Twilight, and she used her own magic, stronger than Rarity’s to levitate Spike onto her back, “It’s Hearth’s Warming.”
Rarity calmed down and realized she had nearly made another scene. “You’re right. I must control myself. I’m ever so sorry, Spike.”
Spike smiled at her, and for the rest of that day, Rarity remained calm, especially after she finished her donation drive and had a much needed rest.
It was a pretty nice Heart’s Warming, and Rarity remembered to send Glitter Glitz the donation money she had.
“I hope she is pleased with it.”
The next day however, after Hearth’s Warming, Rarity received a letter, from Glitter Glitz.
“Rarity… I have received your gift, and while I am thankful, I wish you to know something.
After I received a letter from Princess Celestia, your friends had spoken to me as well, telling me of how bad you felt on the night you insulted me.
I also realize that perhaps my own behaviour was non-to-eloquent either, and for that, I too wish to apologize.”
Rarity smiled, but the smile faded as she read more…
“However, I feel it is probably best we not cross each other’s paths anymore. We only seem to bring out the worst in one another, and while I understand you are a Friendship Pony and you and your friends would wish me to reconcile… I really would prefer not.
I have my reasons, and I fear that we may only more heartache and more pain towards one another.
I wished for your friends to tell you on my behalf, but I told them not on Hearth’s Warming day, because I wished you had a good one.
When Princess Twilight wrote to me, explaining about your charity drive, I decided it best to tell you this way, myself.
I hope that you are not too hurt from my decision, but I feel this is best for both of us.
Farewell and good luck: Glitter Glitz.”
“PS: Please do not respond to this letter.”
Rarity slowly looked up from the letter, and she softly walked over to the couch and sat down next to Opal, disturbing her and she walked off, but poor Rarity fell over the couch and softly began to weep, and she dropped the letter that fell down on the daily paper. On the front page was a story of her wondrous generosity that spread all over helping many poor ponies whom were thankful to Rarity’s actions, but it still broke her heart to know that she couldn’t start over with Glitter, and she wasn’t sure if she could blame herself or not… now knowing that Glitter wasn’t the pony she thought she was.
Friendship seemed to have failed in that field.
Outside her home, the other could see her through the windows, and it broke their hearts to see her so miserable, especially Spike’s. What he would give to march in there and comfort her, but Twilight suggested against it. “It’s best not to disturb her now. She needs some time by herself.”
“Will she be okay?” asked Spike.
Starlight honestly didn’t know, but wanting to hop for the best all she could say was, “She will be, just let her get it all out.”
So they all went away as it snowed around them, and left Rarity to weep her sorrows away so she could get better, but she would never forget this experiences or what the true meaning of being considerate to others meant.
Something, she felt, that everyone should remember.
(Skip to 1:11 and picture credits)